MP: authorities won’t meddle with legal processes to save dialogue with ANC August 29, 2011 - 13:14 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The Armenian authorities will not intervene in legal processes even for the sake of resuming dialogue with the Armenian National Congress (ANC), a member of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia said. “What ANC demands now absolutely contradicts their previous claims and the reason why the Congress stepped back from participating in the political dialogue is beneath criticism,” MP Gagik Minasyan, told a press conference in Yerevan on August 29. He denied that the authorities promised to change the preventive punishment for activist Tigran Arakelyan in order to continue talks. At that, Minasyan expressed his respect to the working group of ANC members and said that the meetings proceeded in a friendly atmosphere despite sharp disparities. Representatives of the ruling coalition have held meeting since July 18, the two main issues on the agenda being conduction of extraordinary election (on ANC demand) and development of canons of political competition (as suggested by the authorities). Problems emerged when police detained 7 young ANC activists. According to the ANC, on August 9 police officers used violence against ANC activists Tigran Arakelyan and Artak Karapetyan. Upon arrival to the site, activists Areg Gevorgyan, Sahak Muradyan, Vahagn Gevorgyan, Sargis Gevorgyan and David Kirimajyan tried to settle the dispute but were beaten as well, the ANC said. All above-mentioned were taken to a police station. Currently, Tigran Arakelyan is kept in custody. The others were released. On August 26, the Congress announced that it suspends the dialogue and believes Arakelyan to be a political prisoner. Top stories Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan took to social media to thank his Lithuanian counterpart for the contribution. President of the Armenian parliament Alen Simonyan met with the Speaker of the Azerbaijani Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova. Achieving stable peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan remains a priority of the OSCE, said Ian Borg. The Cabinet of Ministers decided on Thursday, November 9 to allocated AMD 120 million to arrange the gathering. Partner news | Concept to complete Yerevan Cascade discussed at city hall A conceptual proposal to complete the Cascade complex in downtown Yerevan has been presented by Jean-Michel Wilmotte. Pashinyan visits flood-hit region Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Saturday, June 8 visited the disaster area in the Lori province. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State to travel to Armenia Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs James C. O’Brien will travel to Yerevan on June 10-12. Power of One Dram to benefit Road of Life, Strong Mind IDBank and Idram summarize the results of the May program of “The Power of One Dram”. |